10 aphrodisiac foods and recipes

From ginger to avocado, from truffles to oysters through chilli and chocolate: here are 10 aphrodisiac foods and recipes to bring them to the table. For Valentine's Day dinner but not only ...

There are many ways to rekindle the passion in a love story. One of these goes through the belly. In fact, nature has made available to us many ingredients capable of poking the senses, softening tensions and rediscovering the passion between the sheets.

Over time and the refinement of culinary techniques, foods such as chilli, ginger, avocado, truffle, almonds, watermelon, seafood, cinnamon, saffron and chocolate have made their way into the kitchen, becoming key ingredients for dishes with a high aphrodisiac potential.

Let's find out which are the 10 aphrodisiac foods and the most delicious recipes to cook them on Valentine's Day, for the anniversary or for a romantic dinner.

Most people know that chilli is one of the foods that ignite passion. According to a study carried out by the University of Grenoble, consuming foods rich in spices helps to increase the level of testosterone, the male hormone that contributes to the development of sexual organs and beards and hair. The experiment showed that chilli, in addition to being aphrodisiac and therapeutic, can indicate "alpha males", that is, men capable of overcoming their own kind in conquering a partner.

Chilli acts as a vasodilator due to the effect of lecithin. The visible effect is improved blood circulation, which thus also helps the blood supply to the genitals.

Recipes that harness the potential of chilli include devilish chicken, shrimp, tomato and feta gratin, chilli marbled cake and spicy love knots.

Cinnamon is a spice capable of offering many benefits when ingested or applied topically to the skin. First of all, it stimulates digestion and helps control intestinal gas. Excellent for those suffering from irritable bowel, this spice is able to reduce cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood (therefore a panacea for those suffering from type 2 diabetes).

In women, it helps regulate the cycle and relieve menstrual cramps. Its hot and spicy nature stimulates blood circulation, thus bringing the flow also to the genitals: hence the traditional inclusion in the list of aphrodisiac foods.

Among the many recipes in which you can use it, cinnamon gives its best in carpaccio of cod, potatoes and onion jam, spinach flan with mushrooms, and in apples with sweet wine and cinnamon.

Chocolate also acts as a powerful aphrodisiac. In fact, it contains some essential nutrients to stimulate desire. Theobromine stimulates the cardiovascular system, while caffeine is a powerful natural stimulant. Phenylethylamine, on the other hand, is an antidepressant: it acts in our brain by producing endorphin, also known as the pleasure hormone.

These three substances are also present in a single square of chocolate, which can make you active, serene, helping you to dissolve some inhibitions. In addition, nitric oxide is present in chocolate, which promotes vasodilation, and therefore produces a stimulating effect for the body.

Don't limit the use of chocolate to dessert. There are many recipes that allow you to take advantage of the aphrodisiac power of what was once known as the food of the gods and range from appetizer to second course. Prepare cocoa tagliatelle and jugged hare or jeurs in sauces for your Valentine's Day dinner.